thomas



(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

D.K. THOMAS. EDUCATIONAL CABINET.

No. 577,888. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

\NwNEssEs: \NVENTQR fi s 24W 'zhmucmmm; v

. I v v 1 W M Wm (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

D. K. THOMAS.

EDUGATIONAL CABINET.

IEIVENEOR: javz/i zfilomaxrf BY #w w llivrrn Starts error; a

Arnivr DAVID K. THOMAS, OF BRUNSVVIOIQMISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. G. GLASER, OF SAME PLACE.

EDUCATIGNAL CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 577,888, dated March 2, 1897. Application filed December 26,1895. Serial No. 573,338. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID K. THOMAS, of Brunswick, Charlton county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful I inprovements in Educational Cabinets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to educational cabinets; and my object is to produce an ornamental device of this character which is exceedinglysimple, durable, and cheap of construction, and of ornamental appearance.

With this object in View the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device in its closed position. Fig. 2 rep resents a perspective view of the same when opened to be used as a writing-desk. Fig. 3 represents a front View of the same when opened to be used as a blackboard. Fig. 4 represents on an enlarged scale a vertical section taken on the line a; w of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents on an enlarged scale a section taken on the line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 represents a section to illustrate the pivotal connection of the desk-lid with the desk-frame.

In the said drawings, the framework is constructed as follows: 1 designates the back,and 2 designates the ends, which project forwardly from the back. 7

3 designates the bottom,which also projects forwardly and is provided at its front end with an upwardly-projecting flange orrib 4. The space between the ends is divided by ver tical partitions 5 5 to form the compartments 6, 7, and 8. The said compartments may be subdivided in any suitable manner; but preferably the compartments 7 and 8 are alone divided, the compartment 7 by the cross-bars 9, in rear of which papers, letters, Ate, may be stacked, and the compartment 8 by the flanged shelves 10, upon which papers, ink, pencils, &c., may be supported. The compartment 8 also is shown provided with inclined vertical strip 1], in rear of which pa-- pers may also be stacked. 12 designates the lid or cover of the desk, which in its closed position inclines upwardly or rearwardly, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 4. At its lower end it is provided with the outwardly-projecting pivots 13, which are adapted to slide back and forth in the horizontal grooves 16 in the opposing faces of the ends 2 of the desk-frame, said grooves being arranged below and adjacent to the bottom 3. The upper end of said lid or cover is hinged, as shown at 17, to the board 18, which fits snuglyin a recess formed by flanging outwardly at its lower and side margins the said lid or cover, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, so that the outwardly-presented face of said board will lie approximately flush with the corresponding faces of said flanges, as shown at Figs. 1 and 4. Said boards 12 and 18, when folded together, form the lid or cover of the desk, and when opened to the position shown in Fig. 2 the normally inner side of the board 12 forms a writing desk, owing to the fact that it is supported in a horizontal position by means of the pivots 13, engaging the rear ends of the grooves 16, and the chains 21, connecting the lid or cover with the stationary desk -frame by means of the staples 22 and 23, respectively. When the lid is closed, said chains are confined within the desk, as shown at Fig. 4, and the lid is held in its closed position bymeans of the hook-board 19, which is pivotally connected at its rear end, as shown at 20, to the 8 5 frame and has its hooked or flanged front end engaging the front side and upper end of the board 18. Said board 18 is confined securely against the board 12 within the said recess by means of the turn-button 24, and is provided just above the same with a flexible finger grip or loop 25.

When it is desired to utilize the cabinet as a blackboard for educational or illustrative purposes, the hook-board 19 is operated piv- 5 otallyin the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 4, to the position shown in Fig. 3. It is also operated in this manner when the lid is to be let down for writing purposes. After it is thus elevated the button 24 is turned and I00 1 the loop 25 grasped and the board 18 pivotally raised to the position shown in Figs. 3

and 5, where it will be noticed that its formerly rear face is disposed to the front and is flush with the corresponding face of the inner section 12 of the lid or cover. Said forwardly disposed faces form a blackboard and are maintained in their proper relative positions by reason of the tendency of the upper board to gravitate rearward and thereby cause its lower end to bear squarely and firmly upon the upper end of the board 12. This relation is made more positive and reliable, however, by means of the guard-strip 26, which bears against the rear side of the board 18 when elevated as a blackboard and upon the upper end of the board 12, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. Said strip is held securely in position by means of the clamping-plate 27 and the clamping-screws 28. A flexible strip 29 is also secured by the same means and is to be grasped when the lid or cover is to be raised or lowered.

-In practice the inclination of the blackboard backward, when open, is made at exactly such an angle as brings the upper edge of the board 18 against the wall or support upon which the cabinet is suspended, thus making a firm bearing for this section or part of the blackboard.

Thus it will be seen that I have produced an educational cabinet which will be found very useful and convenient in many situations not necessary to name herein and which at the same time is simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An educational cabinet, comprising a suitable frame, and a blackboard in the form of alid or cover consisting of two sections hinged together at their upper ends, the front section occupying a recess in the face of the inner or rear section, a turn-button for securing said sections together at their lower ends, a loop or grip upon the section occupying the recess, and a guard-strip secured to the inner or rear section and bearing against the rear side of the other section when it is operated and caused to rest upon said inner or rear section, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID K. THOMAS.

WVitnesses:

N. FENSTIMAKER, LAIRD BUNcKn. 

